In India it is said that the mere sight of a Gyuto Monk is a blessing, but to hear the sound of their chanting is to be transformed. Don’t miss an amazing opportunity for both of these at a very special harmonic chanting performance at Crystal Castle on Saturday 28 May at 7.30pm.

This very special performance will be a glorious opportunity to experience this unique musical art form. The Gyuto Monks' pure voices combined with their ancient Tibetan instruments and the visual delight of their rich brocade costumes will make for an unforgettable evening.

The Gyuto Monks of Tibet are the masters of a unique tradition of harmonic overtone chanting. Trained over many years, each monk has developed the extraordinary capacity to chant in three octaves at the same time. The deep, stirring sounds produced have been called the 'sound of heaven' and are the subject of fascination by ethnomusicologists the world over.

The monks are able to reach incredibly low notes, way beyond the range of a Western operatic bass, and the resonance produced has an interesting similarity to the sound of a didgeridoo. In fact both sounds are considered to be audible embodiments of the human relationship to the principles that order the universe, that which the Buddhists call Dharma and the indigenous Australians simply call the Law.

All proceeds from the harmonic chanting performance will go to the ‘World Peace Stupa Project’ blessed by his holiness the Dalai Lama. The stupa will be the very first of its kind in Australia and will represent world peace.

Stupa’s are intricate, spiritual structures built under the guidance of a Tibetan Lama and every part of the design is endowed with special significance. Inside each stupa is a treasury filled with sacred objects and at the heart of the structure is the Tree of Life, a wooden pole covered with thousands of mantras written in gold.

The Kalachakra Stupa is a rare type of stupa with an unusual spherical body. It is created to protect against negative energies using symbolism from the Kalachakra Tantra. Kalachakra means ‘Wheel of Time’ and a Kalachakra Stupa is known as the stupa for world peace. It is specifically for restoring balance to the earth in times of war, conflict and environmental destruction. Tibetans believe that contributing to the building of a stupa is one of the most auspicious things one can do.

Whether it is their mastery of the human voice or the recitation of the Buddha's teachings that forms the content of the chanting, this unique musical phenomenon is simply not to be missed. Not only does it move the heart and stir the soul it is reputed to have a transformative effect on the physical as well as emotional body.

When: Saturday 28 May 2011
Where: Crystal Castle
Time: 7.30pm
Cost: $30 at the door (all proceeds to the development of the stupa)